The excellent and renowned Madinah and Bab Summer Courses are one of the highlights of the year at The World Federation.

The Islamic Education team is committed to ensuring that the courses continue to reach new heights of excellence, through the spiritual, moral, and educational development of the course participants.

To help achieve this, Islamic Education appoints and trains mentors who are part of the course to help support the development of the participants.

MEET THE MENTORS OF THE BAB & MADINAH SUMMER COURSES 2017!

1. Najla Abdulkarim Jaffar

Najla is a student of Zahra Madressa (Bilal Muslim Mission Of Kenya) and has completed a Diploma course in community Heath Nursing at Kenya Medical Training College. She is a hard working person who pays attention to detail and is quick to pick up new things. She is eager to learn from others and is very enthusiastic. Najla says: “I believe that I will be able to deliver as per the expectations and also believe that I have the capability to take care of the mentees as per their standard needs.”

2. Sajidah Rizwan Hameer

Sajidah Hameer was born in Tanzania but grew up in the U.K. She is currently studying mathematics at the University of Birmingham and hopes to one day be a teacher. Sajidah enjoys reading, cooking and traveling, taking pictures along the way.

Sajidah says: 'I attended the Bab-ul-Ilm short summer course in 2012, but haven't returned to Iran since. I can safely say that I left my heart in Mashhad and not a day has gone by where I haven't remembered the amazing memories I made in the beautiful country of Iran. I am honored to have the opportunity to finally return to this amazing place, and to once again be reunited with Imam Ridha (as) and Lady Fatima Ma’sooma(sa). These holy individuals changed my life and I hope to inspire a love for them in the hearts of others; the ziyarah of Iran is a gift that gives on giving, and I want to pass that on to new people now'.

3. Mahdi Abbas Juma

Mahdi Abbas Juma was born and raised in London, UK, where he has been serving his community unceasingly from a young age. Having completed his degree at Aston University in 2016, he decided to embark on the Madinah-al-ILM program that summer and regarded it as "revolutionary journey which unlocked further gateways to a spiritual, personal and intellectual enlightenment that impacted on my daily lived realities."

Following this, Mahdi Abbas commenced his Master's degree at SOAS, the University of London in Political Science, combining this with a course in Farsi.He holds a profound interest in learning languages - particularly Persian for its inherently beautiful nature - through his wanderlust for traveling to a variety of destinations. As a mentor, he intends to implement this asset to teach participants the basics to be confident in conversing with the locals, reaping the most of the program and as a precursor to their lives beyond Iran.

Mahdi Abbas says:

"My experiences as a participant last year has enthused myself to return as a mentor, disseminating my own source of inspiration that I acquired in the presence of Lady Ma’sooma (sa) and Imam Ridha (as). I eagerly await the commencement of this year's program as it will give me an opportunity to empower others whilst enhancing upon my own capabilities, where I regard mentorship as a two-way street of learning and attaining knowledge from those whom you communicate with. Having attended a series of training courses, such as YDP, I am in a position to utilise my interpersonal skills with my fellow youth - who will essentially be the future leaders of our community - to enable them to reflect upon their self-development and thrive as individuals in the path of the Holy Household (as)."

4. Fatimah Jessa Jaffer

Born and raised in London, England, Fatimah has been residing in Qom for the past 5 months and am currently studying Farsi at Jamiatuz Zahra. Moving to Iran has been the most incredible and interesting journey of her life. As with every move to a new country, she has been able to experience a new city, a different culture, interesting foods and practice a lot of patience, but what makes this even more exciting and special is having Bibi Ma’sooma (sa) looking after them as her guests in this Holy city.

Fatimah says: "I was lucky enough to attend the Bab ulIlm camp in 2008. The camp brought a love for Qom into my heart that has stayed with me until today. Through the grace of Imam Ridha (as) and Bibi Ma’sooma (sa), the teachers and mentors gave me a great amount of support and guidance and I am looking forward to facilitating that same experience for the girls this year. I can't say everyone's experience in Iran will be the same but I can guarantee that this is a trip you'll never forget!"

5. Salim Beja Nyamawi

Salim Beja Nyamawi aged 20 is from Mombasa, Kenya. He is currently studying a degree in Procurement and Supply Chain Management in South Eastern Kenya University.

Salim says: "The journey to Iran will boost my Iman since it’s among the spiritual countries in the world. Meeting with my fellow Shia Muslims worldwide is another thing I am looking forward to. As a mentor I will do my best to see to it that the participants live harmoniously throughout the course and inshAllah it will be the best course ever."

6. Sumaiyaa Ladak

Sumaiyaa is currently studying her bachelor’s degree at City, University of London and has just completed her second year.

Sumaiyaa was a member of the Al-Mahdi Girls in the Mombasa Jamaat where they organised events in the mosque and held fund-raisers. She loves reading, swimming and playing badminton in her free time.

She loves a good challenge which encouraged her to hike up Mt. Abedares and Taita Hills and now take up this opportunity of mentoring the Madinah and Bab camp of which she was a student in 2013.

Sumaiyaa says, "I am looking forward to interacting with the other mentors and students from various countries, all with different perspectives and personalities with the aim of together learning more about our religion and the Imam of our time (as) from this spirituality uplifting experience, alongside visiting the Holy shrines of Imam Ridha (as) and Bibi Ma’asooma (sa), inshaAllah"

Also known as Burma, this South-East Asian country, with a population of around 60 million individuals, with an incredibly small Shia minority of approximately 20,000, is an emerging hub for Islamic Education.